Although the Nuggets have been bitten by the injury bug and are struggling a bit, I love my Nugs. Ty Lawson, Gallo, and the emergence of Corey Brewer, who is a hustle machine. They are unselfish and move the ball.

Speaking of the NBA, are you as stoked about Jeremy Lin as I am? I am LINSANE. All he does is LIN. Lin or lose, he is fun to watch. His story is instructional for the young player. He went to Harvard and had a great career but the number of Harvard grads who play in the NBA is equal to how many times I have dunked: ZERO. By dint of hard work and an unearthly belief in himself and his abilities he made the NBA, only to languish on the bench and suffer the indignity of being demoted to the D-league, the Gulag of lost souls and lost dreams.

How he has resurrected himself and placed himself into the national lead on every sports story can only be described as profound. He has transcended the game of basketball and moved into the realm of folklore.

Jeremy Lin serves as an example for EVERYONE: from the scrub on the bench to the salesman who keeps coming up short of his quota. Work hard at your craft, whatever it is; possess an unbreakable, unshakeable belief in yourself, in what you can achieve. Have a PASSION for whatever it is that you love and PURSUE it no matter what obstacles are thrown in your way.

KUDOS

Yesterday, Heather and I went down to Colorado Springs to watch Colorado College play Hendrix, which is a small university in Arkansas. Two of my all-time favorite kids were playing against each other: Chris Leskanski, CC and Nathan McCubbin who plays for Hendrix.

I can’t tell you how much fun it was to watch their teams go at it. Chris is a 6’6″ freshman from Regis and he busted for 22 points and 7 boards. Chris, in the last four games, is killing it, going for about 20 and 10 each game.

Nathan is a 5’11″ jitterbug of a point guard who tied his career high of seven points including a beautiful left-hand floater over the biggies.

I started Nathan when he was in 5th grade, he was one the first fifteen kids I worked with (he and Katie Shepard did 1v1 until their tongues fell off—it worked pretty well, you can’t take the ball from either of them. Nathan wants to be a doctor. I’d trust him with my innards.

Chris Leskanski is a funny kid (young man) who can play. His jumphook is unguardable. I’ll always remember the times at Collegiate when he and his brother, Nick (Loyola of Chicago-ROTC program) would go at it tooth and nail. Nick is two years older and always had the upper hand. Maybe not so much anymore. Chris is chiseled and skilled.

Both Nathan and Chris come from incredibly supportive families. I saw both of their parents watching their sons play college basketball. That is pretty cool.

Private Edge Training

I started Emily Lachenmayer today in my individual training program. Emily is a sophomore at Chatfield High School.  She is a 6 footer on varsity who needs to improve her ball-handling skills and shot creation to play at the next level. Emily is a smart girl with chemical engineering in her future. Basketball can help you get to the school which will impact your future. You don’t have to be an all star or an all-state player to play at the next level. Get some exposure, get on the radar and you never know. Basketball can be your ticket.

Emily went head to head with Serena Guidino today, learning jumphook and sweeping hook. Check the story on Serena.

The ‘off season’ for most kids will start this week. There is no off season in basketball. Now is the time to get serious and improve your game.

I can take three kids in the next month for private training. It will make a difference in your career.

Edge Elite

My newest program might be my best. Get 4-6 kids from your high school or club team and come train with me the next few months. Here’s what going to happen: you will expand your skills EXPONENTIALLY and place you on the path to success.

I only want the serious player. If you don’t want to dedicate yourself to the game and to getting better, don’t sign up. I don’t want to work with dilettantes. Only kids with their eyes of the prize.

Contact me with your group and we will schedule some high-level training.

Kudos

Check out the Denver Post today and you can see a picture of Haley Thompson. Haley (Mullen) is going great guns at CSU. Another Edge graduate, Kelly Hartig (Thunderridge), has averaged about 20 points a game in the last couple of games at CSU.

Peace!

Mike